Your Garage Versus Insect Invaders

Is your garage filled with unwanted visitors? Creepy crawlies like ants, termites, bees, wasps, and spiders are easily attracted to garages. They have plenty of hiding places, can sometimes be damp, frequently provide access to food, and offer shelter from harsh weather conditions. Aside from being a little creepy, many insects have the potential to damage your garage or your yard, and some could be a safety risk to you and your family. For these reasons, it is important that any unwelcome insect guests in your garage are quickly identified and removed. Your home is probably bug free. Follow these easy steps, and your garage can be too.

What Insects Should I Look For?

All sorts of insects have the ability to get into your garage. Some can be frightening but will not cause any damage. Others, such as ants and termites, can be quite damaging. Ants and termites can both do serious damage to your yard and to any wooden structures on your property. Both types of insects eat organic matter and also build their nests in wood. A termite or ant nest in your garage could mean structural damage. Additionally, many species of ants bite, and some even sting, meaning they could harm you, your family, or your pets. Some types of beetles can also cause problems. Wood-boring beetles can be easily identified by any holes bored into the wood of your garage. Spiders, centipedes, wasps, and bees will likely not do any structural damage, but many can bite or sting, so you will likely want them removed as well.

Bug Proofing

When you are ready to bug proof your garage, follow these steps:

Clean and Remove: Start with cleaning everything out of your garage. Remove any existing insects, and resolve any moisture issues you may have. Remember, moisture attracts many types of insects. If there is already a serious insect infestation within your garage, you may need the help of a pesticide or possibly a pest control company.

Look for Points of Entry: Next, examine your garage for any potential places creepy crawlies could enter your garage. Inspect your windows, walls, and roof, looking for any cracks or holes. While you may not see insects entering at that time, look for signs such as dead insects left behind, or things like spiderwebs, insect nests, chew marks, or sawdust. Check the stripping around your garage door and windows as well, ensuring a tight seal still exists.

Seal Any Problem Areas: Once you have identified any problem areas, start sealing them up. Most cracks and holes can be sealed with silicone caulk, although masonry sealer may be needed in some cases. Make any needed window or door repairs as well. If a potential entryway is too large to seal yourself, seek help.

Organize Your Garage: Next, start placing things back in the garage. The more organized you are, the better. Bugs like small hiding places, so if possible, trade in boxes of garden tools for a nice hanging rack or a shelving unit that can be opened and closed. Apply pesticides to areas of concern to ensure future insects are repelled. Try to keep anything food related, such as a grill or even a garbage bin, out of your garage if possible, as these items tend to attract critters. A clean garage gives insects less places to hide and nest.

Note on Mosquitoes: Mosquitoes can also be problematic, especially during the summer months. If you are struggling with mosquitoes in and around your garage, check out this previous post on dealing with mosquitoes.

Our Team Is Here to Help

The team at Blue Sky Builders, Inc. is specialized in all things garage related. Whether you are dealing with an ant problem, need some advice on garage organization, or are ready to start a larger project like a garage remodel, we are here to help. Call 630-852-8485 today or visit us Blue Sky Builders, Inc. online to learn more about the wide variety of services we offer.